Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Pictured above, from the NYTimes: E.B. White’s original typewriter and manuscript are pictured with William Strunk Jr.’s original version and the 1959 edition of “The Elements of Style.”

Today's New York Times Room for Debate blog includes a tribute to Strunk and White written by five grammarians and their ilk. Fun reading, and they do tend to pooh-pooh the ongoing dedication on the part of so many English teachers through the years, mine included. It seems Messrs. Strunk and White have not aged well. To quote the hilarious entry by Patricia T. O'Connor:

"... 'six persons' is not better than 'six people.' Show me a guy who invariably says 'six persons' and I will show you a fathead. But Happy Birthday anyway, Strunk and White."

Still, I do love this admonishment from ol' Strunk & White: "Interesting. An unconvincing word; avoid it as a means of introduction. Instead of announcing that what you are about to tell is interesting, make it so."

Friday, April 10, 2009

What I find troubling about polls like this is the way they artificially segment ideas that are really intertwined.

I mean, how exactly do you separate any of the other issues people spoke about ("Education," "The Environment," "Healthcare," "Gas Prices," "Deficit") from "Jobs/Economy"?

The question then becomes one of semantics, of top-of-mind word choices and categorization, rather than a measured analysis of public opinion regarding complex issues. Have we not all clued into this thanks to the disrobing of the George W strategy?

So what is one to take home from a chart like this? The words "Jobs/Economy" are our hot buttons right now. Yes. Got that.